IRVINE, Calif., May 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that tickets for its fifth
BlizzCon(R) gaming convention will go on sale in two batches on
Wednesday, June 2 and Saturday, June 5, 2010. BlizzCon is a celebration
of the global player communities surrounding Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft(R),
Diablo(R), and StarCraft(R) game
universes. The event will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in
Anaheim, California on October 22 and 23. Live coverage of the event
will be available as a DIRECTV(R) Pay Per View package and as a
multi-channel Internet stream, allowing viewers online to switch between
coverage of multiple panels and activities during the show.

"BlizzCon is a unique opportunity for our players to meet one another,
strengthen the friendships they've formed online, and have a great time
celebrating a shared passion for gaming together with Blizzard
employees," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard
Entertainment. "For those who can't attend, we're pleased to be
providing an unprecedented level of access to the activities and
attractions that BlizzCon has to offer."

In addition to serving as a gathering place for the different Blizzard
Entertainment gaming communities, BlizzCon will have an array of
activities, including discussion panels, competitive and casual
tournaments, contests, hands-on playtime with current and upcoming
Blizzard Entertainment games, and more.

Tickets to the convention will be priced at $150 USD each and will be
available for purchase from the official BlizzCon website at www.blizzcon.com.
Tickets will be released in two separate batches on June 2 at 7 p.m.
Pacific time and on June 5 at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Those
interested in attending BlizzCon can simplify the purchase process by
registering a Battle.net account at www.battle.net
before ticket sales begin.

The popular DIRECTV(R) BlizzCon Pay Per View event will return
in 2010, available to existing DIRECTV customers in the United States
for $39.95 USD. The event will again deliver comprehensive live HD
coverage from the show floor on each day of the convention, including
exclusive interviews, demos, and more.

Gamers around the world will also have the option to purchase the Pay
Per View event as a multi-channel Internet stream, also priced at $39.95
USD (pricing may vary by region). For the first time, anyone who
purchases the Internet stream will be able to switch freely between
multiple channels of coverage dedicated to different areas of BlizzCon,
allowing online viewers expanded access to the panels and events they're
most interested in. DIRECTV customers who order the televised event will
receive this Internet stream at no extra charge, allowing them to watch
in the format of their choice. Those who order the event will also
receive this year's BlizzCon-exclusive World of Warcraft(R)
in-game item (availability may vary by region), to be revealed at a
later date. Limited streaming coverage of the BlizzCon opening ceremony
and certain BlizzCon tournaments will be available via the Internet for
free.

As BlizzCon draws closer, further details about the show, including
ordering and programming information for the DIRECTV BlizzCon Pay Per
View event and multi-channel Internet stream, will be announced at www.blizzcon.com.

To keep pace with the continued growth of World of Warcraft as
well as development on other Blizzard Entertainment games, the company
is currently hiring for numerous open positions. More information on
available career opportunities can be found at www.blizzard.com/jobs.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft(R)
and the Warcraft(R), StarCraft(R),
and Diablo(R) series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com),
a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), is a premier developer
and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of
the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment's
track record includes eleven #1-selling games and multiple Game of the
Year awards. The company's online-gaming service, Battle.net(R),
is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV) is the world's most popular video service
delivering state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming, the most
comprehensive sports packages available and industry leading customer
service to its more than 25.6 million customers in the U.S. and Latin
America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 18.6 million customers more
than 130 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality
sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as
NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R)
DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable
companies for nine years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its
subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina,
Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the
pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an
unrivaled digital television experience to 7 million customers. DIRECTV
sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports
Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 65
percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date
information on DIRECTV, please call 1-800-DIRECTV or visit directv.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Statements: Information in this press release that involves
Blizzard Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies
regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts
and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Blizzard Entertainment
generally uses words such as "outlook," "will," "could," "would,"
"might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects,"
"intends," "anticipates," "estimate," "future," "plan," "positioned,"
"potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to,"
"upcoming" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause Blizzard Entertainment's actual
future results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are
not limited to, sales levels of Blizzard Entertainment's titles, shifts
in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic
environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game
market, declines in software pricing, product returns and price
protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Blizzard
Entertainment's products, competition from the used game market,
industry competition and competition from other forms of entertainment,
rapid changes in technology, industry standards and consumer
preferences, including interest in specific genres such as real-time
strategy, action-role-playing and massively multiplayer online games,
protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Blizzard
Entertainment, maintenance of relationships with key personnel,
customers, licensees, licensors, vendors and third-party developers,
including the ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and
developers who can create high quality "hit" titles, counterparty risks
relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic
and international economic, financial and political conditions and
policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, and the identification
of suitable future acquisition opportunities, and the other factors
identified in the risk factors section of Activision Blizzard's most
recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based
upon information available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision
Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Blizzard
Entertainment nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update
any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed
to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These
statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Blizzard
Entertainment or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control
and may cause actual results to differ materially from current
expectations.

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As a leading entertainment franchise globally, Call of Duty delivers cinematic intensity, big moments and stunning visuals. Call of Duty games feature an award-winning multiplayer experience, a gripping campaign on par with a Hollywood blockbuster, and an engaging cooperative mode. The critically-acclaimed franchise continues to set the bar in the FPS genre and is enjoyed by millions and millions of gamers every year.

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